PIECES of art created by women with mental health issues are appearing in an exhibition.

A number of works of art, including drawings, paintings and textiles, went on show at the City Library, in Fawcett Street, Sunderland, yesterday, where they will be displayed for the rest of the week.

The pieces were created for a competition run by the project Developing Action for Women's Needs (Dawn), which works to ensure mental health services in Sunderland meet the needs of users.

The overall winner was Alison Stuart, from the Bridge Project, in Washington. She said: "I am absolutely thrilled to be the overall winner of the art competition and having the opportunity to have my artwork displayed in the City Library is an extra bonus."

The competition was judged by Gateshead-based textile artist Clare Satow.

She said: "It is positive just to see the artwork on display.

"Judging was very difficult because there are so many aspects to people's achievements in making a piece of work.

"Some were technically very good, some pieces demonstrated the benefits of working as a group, some were vital for allowing self- expression, and some pieces were just simply fun."